Coming out

[buttercupbaby]

I've been atheist/agnostic (still haven't quit decided)  for about 4 years now.   A few people at work know my views.   Frankly, I just don't say much about it because it always enlists an argument that I just don't feel like getting into.   How can you guys stand rehashing the same arguments over and over again?     Couldn't we just have a flier or something?  (j/k)     Anyway, I'm not ashamed of it, but I really don't want the hassle, and I don't want the prejudice, either.    Also in my line of work (I'm a nurse), there is a huge spiritual element that I just deal with and pretend to understand.    Patient's ask me to pray with them and I do, sometimes,  for their benefit, though I can't wait to get the hell out of there when they do that.  Mostly, I call the chaplain for them.     I just think that if I said I was atheist or refused to do that, they would not want me for their nurse.  Not that I care about that, but switching up assignments is quit a headache once you're halfway through your day.    And some of them are dying.    

Anyway, I feel like l'm living a lie sometimes and it really sucks.    I'm glad there's more and more younger people not afraid to be out there and be vocal, and hopefully, eventually make it socially acceptable to have a different point of view than the bible thumpers.

[Whitney]

I'm also currently struggling with exactly how out I want to be because it could also affect my work.  I don't want to be overlooked for a job or lose a client just because I have a currently taboo worldview.  With the activities I participate in, I'm finding myself on that line where the closet door is half open I have to decide to open the closet door all the way or close it again.

[Will]

I've been atheist/agnostic (still haven't quit decided)  for about 4 years now.   A few people at work know my views.   Frankly, I just don't say much about it because it always enlists an argument that I just don't feel like getting into.   How can you guys stand rehashing the same arguments over and over again?     Couldn't we just have a flier or something?  (j/k)

We were talking about making a database of every one of those common answers that atheists are required to answer. I think it's still something we could do.

Anyway, I'm not ashamed of it, but I really don't want the hassle, and I don't want the prejudice, either. Also in my line of work (I'm a nurse), there is a huge spiritual element that I just deal with and pretend to understand. Patient's ask me to pray with them and I do, sometimes,  for their benefit, though I can't wait to get the hell out of there when they do that. Mostly, I call the chaplain for them. I just think that if I said I was atheist or refused to do that, they would not want me for their nurse. Not that I care about that, but switching up assignments is quit a headache once you're halfway through your day.    And some of them are dying.

Some patients are non-believers, and might prefer to get non-religious comfort. I know I'd appreciate not having to put up "well, keep praying" or whatever when I'm sick or injured from the person that's going to help to heal me. Anyway, statistics would suggest that your business has a higher proportion of non-religious people. It might be a safer career to come out in than, say, masonry or kindergarten teacher.

Anyway, I feel like l'm living a lie sometimes and it really sucks.    I'm glad there's more and more younger people not afraid to be out there and be vocal, and hopefully, eventually make it socially acceptable to have a different point of view than the bible thumpers.

A lot of people are forced to be in your situation, and it's really unfortunate. I certainly sympathize.

[AlexanderBlake]

I completely understand what you're feeling, I also feel forced to 'fake' religion sometimes in my line of work.
I've had customers tell me that they wanted to know I believed in Jesus before I worked on their computers (I run a computer repair business).
I don't know what to do either.
I hope you figure out what to do.
Good luck.

[buttercupbaby]

I've had customers tell me that they wanted to know I believed in Jesus before I worked on their computers (I run a computer repair business).

That is hilarious.  I could just see your face.  

[flipphavok13]

I am usually pretty open and honest about my view of religion, but if I were in a situation where my job was on the line I think I would still tell the truth because my freedom of speech and expression is very important to me.
And if they want to fire me because of it I'd tell them jesus would be ashamed of them.

But that's just me, your a nurse I think your just gonna have to swallow some pride on this one and bare through it with a fake smile.

anyway i wish you  good luck on your situation

[karadan]

The more i read threads like this, the more i thank Pesci that i live where i do. Having said that, if my job was on the line because of my belief system, i'd have no problem lying by saying i love god etc. If it meant my livelihood was safe by doing so, i'd have no moral problems telling the religious idiots what they wanted to hear.

Maybe it is easy for me to say that because i've never been in that situation, so i could be completely wrong.

[SallyMutant]

I just went back into the closet, and I hate this feeling. I had Happy Atheist Forum listed as a favorite site on my FaceBook page for months when  our page had a very small number of family and friends. Now I am getting friend invites from  liberal mainstream christians, and i know their feelings will be hurt if they see a whiff of athiesim. They really like me and know I am a kindly liberal.  But they can't comprehend that there's nothing there. They  will be sorry for me because I don't have any spirtual connection, and that I'm a Saaaad Panda. Also, these people are thoughtful  grownups, theology students and writer types so the taunt, implied by unfriendly atheists,   "if you believe, you have shit for brains" will be the wrong thing to do. Kind people should unite; anybody got a pitch?

[Whitney]

I posted things about Camp Quest and joined some freethought groups on my face book and none of the Christians on my friends list said anything about it.  I guess they might have said something if I were still actually friends with them...most of the involved Christians on my list are people I went to high school with whom I would have no contact if not for facebook.

[Godless]

I posted things about Camp Quest and joined some freethought groups on my face book and none of the Christians on my friends list said anything about it.  I guess they might have said something if I were still actually friends with them...most of the involved Christians on my list are people I went to high school with whom I would have no contact if not for facebook.

One of my friends from high school is very religious and about 75% of her Facebook posts are something along the lines of "Allison loves Jesus with all her heart." I have no problem with her and she still talks to me even though she probably knows I'm an atheist. She is a pretty nice person on top of that.

[curiosityandthecat]

I'm an atheist. Everybody else's opinion of that be damned. (Except my immediate family, from whom I still receive occasional financial support.   )

Then again, as I've mentioned before, I live in a liberal college town where a disproportionate number of people are either atheists or just not concerned with religion. Also, my wife is from Taiwan, a country that's >90% secular. I don't friend people from high school that I don't talk to because, well, they're not my friends anymore. They're people I knew ten years ago (and frankly am rather relieved to be away from).

[LoneMateria]

I'm an atheist. Everybody else's opinion of that be damned. (Except my immediate family, from whom I still receive occasional financial support.   )

Then again, as I've mentioned before, I live in a liberal college town where a disproportionate number of people are either atheists or just not concerned with religion. Also, my wife is from Taiwan, a country that's >90% secular. I don't friend people from high school that I don't talk to because, well, they're not my friends anymore. They're people I knew ten years ago (and frankly am rather relieved to be away from).

I agree with you.  If your "friends" don't want to be your friend anymore over something as small belief in some god then they aren't your friend.  If dogma will affect how they act around you then its their loss.  Honestly I would rather not bite my tongue for however long my friendship lasts with a person.  You shouldn't have to stop being you so that your "friends" will like you.